Consider light to medium red wines to enjoy during the warmer months of spring and summer. These wines, with their lower alcohol content and refreshing taste, are a delightful departure from the classics. These Light to Medium Red Wines for Spring and Summer, are best served slightly chilled. They pair well with a variety of foods, from grilled vegetables and seafood to lighter meats like chicken and pork. Some popular light to medium red wines include Pinot Noir, Beaujolais, and Chianti. However, I am stepping out of the classics. Let me recommend some light to medium reds that offer a refreshing taste and versatility. These wines will surely be a hit at any spring or summer gathering.
Tempranillo, a versatile grape variety, is perfect for the warmer months. It is known for its medium—to full-bodied red wines with cherry, plum, and tobacco flavors. Tempranillo is particularly enjoyable for those who love grilling, starting Memorial Day and going through the summer. Since Mirto 2016 is in the medium-priced range, might not be on your list for everyday Tempranillo. Its uniqueness and crafting techniques are worth every bang for the buck.
Ramon Bilbao, synonymous with quality and craftsmanship, is celebrating over 100 years of winemaking excellence with their Rioja Wines. Founded in 1924, they have been at the forefront of pushing the boundaries of winemaking techniques and sustainable practices.
Mirto 2016, the winery’s signature, is a testament to their commitment to excellence. Crafted in high-altitude cultivation, it explores the geographical extremes of the region, offering an exciting typicity of vineyards. Moreover, the vibrant canvas of Ramón Bilbao’s wines is built on the foundation of Rodolfo and his technical team, who have reinterpreted the old region style over the years. They utilize soft-toasted, premium American and French oak barrels to age wines for a maximum of five years, underscoring the true expression of the blends. Each shade of color in their wines is an ode to all the hardships, changes, and challenges the winery has navigated over the last century. Therefore, there are many stories over winemaking it a painting of excellence and curiosity.
Made from the exceptional years of the best old vines in eight villages around Haro, this ruby red wine is crafted with 100% Tempranillo Riojano and stands as elegance in a bottle. It’s clean and open on the nose with intense, complex layers of licorice, dark fruit and spices, smoked aromas, chocolate, and coffee beans. It’s intense, juicy, and long on the palate, with medium acidity and ripe tannins.
With medium to medium-high alcohol level content, Mirto has medium tannins and medium alcohol levels that pair perfectly with Mexican Fare, mushroom quesadillas, and guacamole for a fiesta. This is your wine!
The complexity and balance of Mirto 2016 make it an ideal companion for a wide range of dishes. From the sizzle of grilled meats and vegetables to the heartiness of stews and casseroles, this wine elevates every culinary experience. Its versatility opens up a world of possibilities, making it a perfect choice for your summer feasts.
A vegan red fruit-forward Italian Red Blend. Nowadays, their winemaking team use this certified organic grapes. Moreover, many people it enjoyed with vegetarian plates. Say no more! It is rare for many wineries in Europe to be certified organic. Still, Querciabella, the winery behind Mongrana Rosso, has focused on crafting fine and organic wines from the ground up!
If you, like me, prefer to eat lighter and even vegan or vegetarian during summer, it’s worth noting that not all wines are vegan. However, the Tuscan estate Querciabella stands out from other Italian wineries by using no animal products in its vineyards or cellar. Even the glue on their labels is vegan! Querciabella is a leading winery in sustainability and veganism, utilizing green manure, covering crops in their vineyards, and fostering the growth of a natural ecosystem. As a certified organic and vegan winery, they strive to minimize the adverse effects of agriculture by taking a holistic approach.
This wine has a fruity aroma, with ripe cherries, blackberries, blueberries, herbs, nuts, leather, coffee powder, cocoa, and licorice. It is juicy and fresh on the palate, with soft tannins and flavors of dark cherries, jam, hibiscus, and red spices. The wine has a medium to full body, a crisp elegance in the palate acidity, and moderate tannins with a medium length.
The 2005 Mongrana Rosso marked the first vintage of this wine. The 2020 vintage is a blend of three grape varieties: Sangiovese (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (25%), and Merlot (25%). The vineyards where these grapes were grown are in Alberese, Grosseto (Maremma), 20-50 meters above sea level. They were planted in 2000 with a north-south orientation. The soil in this region is mineral-rich and acidic, consisting of a mixture of silt and alluvial sand with areas of gravel and surface pebbles.
The vineyards’ viticulture practices are organic and plant-based biodynamic to ensure the best quality of grapes. The average yield is 40 hL/ha, producing around 82,000 bottles.
Mongrana Rosso’s harvest occurred between Harvest September 5th and September 26th. The winemaking process involved using small cement and stainless-steel vats to preserve the wine’s quality and taste.
If someone asks you if all wines are vegan, you can confidently tell them that not all wines are vegan, except for some of them, such as Mongrana Rosso. If you want to enjoy a wine that aligns with your vegan lifestyle, pair your favorite vegan dishes with Querciabella, a vegan wine.
This medium red wine can be enjoyed after chilling to the ideal serving temperature of 14–18°C (57–64°F).
It’s an excellent pairing for vegetarian options such as vegetarian pizza, mushroom risotto, eggplant parmesan, or a delicious bean chili.
This is the next wine we all know we need. Chilled reds are more than a trend; they are here to stay! Hence, I was amazed when my favorite producer from the Rhone Valley, Michael Chaputier, got into making this exceptional wine that you can chill! It is a blend of 80% Grenache Noir and 20% Syrah, providing a perfect balance between the richness of the Grenache Noir and the spicy notes of the Syrah.
The grapes used to make this wine are meticulously chosen during from the finest clay-limestone terraces, ensuring only the best quality fruit is used in the winemaking process.
I recommend this wine is to be served chilled or very chilled at a temperature of 10 or 12 Celsius.
Light reds are here to star beyond summer but particularly in summer are great to enjoy! I was very excited and curious to taste this because is not a typical practice to chill your reds but this Rouge Clair is an innovative offering that anyone who is into the next best thing in wine should at least give it a try this summer!
Maison Chapoutier recommends storing your bottles in a cool, dark place at 10° to 12°C (50 F to 52 F) for no more than 12 to 18 months to maintain the quality of the wine.
Rouge Clairs is perfect as an aperitif and al fresco dinner or with small tapas to share in a wine bar, summer cuisine, etc.
Previously placed in the fridge, this gem should bebe tasted between 10°and 12°when the « & Frais » sign lights up on its label.
Cantina di Sorbara’s Lambrusco Sorbara Emma offers aromas of berries, fruit, and flowers with a lively palate and a cherry finish.
Sparkling Dry Lambrusco is a slightly fizzy and dry Italian. Lambrusco graped are used which is grown in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. This wine is typically deep ruby red. I love its refreshing, fruity flavor with a hint of tartness. The bubbles in the wine are created through a secondary fermentation process, which gives it a light effervescence.
It has a cherry flavor with tart fruit on the palate and tiny bubbles and is utterly crisp and refreshing.
For optimal enjoyment, serving the Lambrusco Sorbara Emma produced by Cantina di Sorbara chilled is recommended. This wine is best served at a temperature ranging from 8-10°C (46-50°F). This range allows its vibrant flavors and aromas to come to life. The wine is a beautiful shade of pale pink with a delicate and refreshing taste that pairs perfectly with light meals or as an aperitif. Make sure that you experience the full potential of this wine. Ensure that it is chilled to perfection before serving.
Sparkling Dry Lambrusco pairs well with a variety of foods, including pasta dishes, cured meats, and cheeses. It is a popular choice for summer gatherings and can be enjoyed on its own or as an accompaniment to a meal.
Light to Medium Reds for Spring and Summer
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